A Small-Cap Energy Stock Fueling Up for a Short Squeeze

DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Energy -- and specifically the oil and gas complex -- continues to be a bright spot in this market.

>>3 Stocks Spiking on Big Volume

Just take a look at some of the moves in this sector, such as small-cap independent oil and gas player Quicksilver Resources (KWK). That stock is ripping higher today by 7% on above-average volume. Over the last six months, shares of KWK have soared higher by 58%, and the stock is now approaching its 52-week high at $3.67 a share.

Another small-cap oil and gas player that's been on a fire of late is Callon Petroleum (CPE), which is up by more than 40% so far in 2014. This stock is also trending strong today, with shares up by 2.6% at $9.17, within range of its 52-week high of $9.84 a share. One more small-cap oil and gas play that's recently exploded to the upside is Magellan Petroleum (MPET), which has soared higher in 2014 by over 100%.

As you can see, the oil and gas complex is trending strong right now, and small-cap stocks in this space are in play with the bulls. This momentum could be here for a while when you consider the troubling escalations we've seen in the past few weeks in Ukraine. The geopolitical tensions in Ukraine are keeping a bid under the energy market, and unless that situation de-escalates dramatically, then I expect that bid to remain in place.

>>5 Rocket Stocks to Buy for May Gains

This all has me scanning the small-cap energy space for what could be the next big runners. A number of small-cap oil and gas players could very easily be next to make a major run as the momentum players move from stock to stock in the sector looking for opportunity. These small-cap energy names have the capability to make massive moves higher, since many have low floats and lots of shorts.

A perfect example of an oil and gas player that's recently exploded higher and also has a low float and lots of shorts is FX Energy (FXEN), which has ripped to the upside by 30% over the last three months. FX Energy has a tradable float of 50 million shares, and the short interest as a percentage of its float is just over 6%. Just this month, shares of FXEN exploded higher from its low of $3.13 to its recent high of $5.14 a share. Make no mistake, once the big upside volume flowed into FXEN a few weeks ago. the shorts got spooked and covered in a hurry, producing that large spike.

>>5 Stocks Poised for Breakouts

One small-cap independent oil and gas player that's showing up on my scans today that could be capable of a massive move higher soon is Endeavour International (END), which acquires, explores and develops energy reserves and resources in the U.K. North Sea and the U.S. onshore. This company has interests in Alba, Bacchus, Rochelle and other field areas in the U.K., as well as the Pennsylvania Marcellus area, Haynesville producing project areas in Louisiana and Heath Shale Oil Play in Montana. So far in 2014, shares of END haven't joined the small-cap oil and gas party; shares are down by 37%.

That might be about to change, though, since shares of END are starting to look interesting from a technical standpoint, and this stock has a very low tradable float and a massive short interest. This is just the recipe that can produce moves like the ones we've seen in some of the names mentioned above. END could outperform them all if a short-squeeze gets underway that's accompanied by strong upside volume flows.

>>5 Toxic Stocks to Watch Out For

If you take a look at the chart for Endeavour International, you'll notice that this stock was in a massive downtrend from its January high of $7.50 to its recent low of $2.71 a share. During that downtrend, shares of END were consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of END have now started to show signs of coming out of that downtrend, since the stock has trended sideways for the last two months, between $2.71 on the downside and $3.69 on the upside. Shares of END have recently rebounded higher off that $2.71 low to its current price of $3.25 a share and it's now quickly moving within range of triggering a major breakout trade.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in END as long as its trending above $3 a share or above $2.90 a share then once it breaks out above some near-term overhead resistance levels at $3.31 to $3.36 a share and then once it clears more resistance levels at $3.49 to $3.69 a share with high volume. Look for volume on that move that registers near or above its three-month average action of 1.11 million shares. If that breakout gets sparked soon, then END could see a monster short-squeeze that takes the stock back towards its 200-day moving average at $4.99 to even $5.50 or $6 a share.

The short-squeeze opportunity is huge here, since the current short interest as a percentage of the float for END is massive at 33%. That means that out of the 29.8 million shares in the tradable float, 9.88 million shares are sold short by the bears. This is a very low float that's being leaned on big by the short-sellers. If the sector strength we've seen recently in the small-cap oil gas names spills over to END soon, then this stock could make the biggest move yet.
The key thing to watch for if that squeeze is going to happen soon, is for shares of END to take out those near-term overhead resistance levels I highlighted with strong upside volume. Traders should watch for large block trades to hit the tape on END if the stock starts to clear those levels soon, because that could mean the shorts are covering knowing full well the sector is in play. Keep in mind, this is just a trading opportunity I see here not a long-term call on END as a great buy. I am simply looking to take advantage of the sector strength on a low float high short interest idea.

-- Written by Roberto Pedone in Delafield, Wis.

RELATED LINKS:

>>4 Big Stocks Getting Big Attention

>>5 Stocks Ready to Pop on Bullish Earnings

>>5 Health Care Stocks Hedge Funds Love

Follow Stockpickr on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

At the time of publication, author had no positions in stocks mentioned.

Roberto Pedone, based out of Delafield, Wis., is an independent trader who focuses on technical analysis for small- and large-cap stocks, options, futures, commodities and currencies. Roberto studied international business at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and he spent a year overseas studying business in Lubeck, Germany. His work has appeared on financial outlets including

CNBC.com and Forbes.com. You can follow Pedone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zerosum24 or @zerosum24.

Top 5 Industrial Disributor Companies To Invest In Right Now

Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASDAQ: WFM) may have just telegraphed the peak of the growth trends in organic and high-priced groceries. For years we have argued that investors need to think of Whole foods as a luxury goods destination rather than being in an industry dominated by low-margin supermarket stores. Now Whole Foods is finding again that growing pains come in measured steps, and the trends elsewhere may have even started catching up to the company.

In the latest quarterly earnings report, Whole Foods showed that same-store sales were up a mere 5.9%. That is great for other chains, but investors demand more of this luxury food giant.

The latest quarterly earnings came to $121 million, or $0.32 per share. Revenue growth was only 2% to $2.98 billion. We had estimates pegged at $0.31 in earnings per share, but the revenue expectations were $3.04 billion. That 2% sales growth was represented as being from the 13-week period last year and an increase of 11% on a comparative 12-week basis, so growth is perhaps better than it sounds on the surface.

Top 5 Industrial Disributor Companies To Invest In Right Now: Woodward Inc.(WWD)

Woodward, Inc. designs, manufactures, and services energy control and optimization solutions for the aerospace and energy markets worldwide. Its Aerospace segment offers pumps, valves, fuel nozzles, metering units, cockpit controls, actuators, motors, and sensors for the management of fuel, air, combustion, and motion systems in commercial, business, and military aircraft, as well as weapons and defense systems. This segment also provides aftermarket repair, overhaul, and other services to commercial airlines, turbine original equipment manufacturer (OEM) repair facilities, military depots, third party repair shops, and end users. It sells its products to OEMs and tier-one prime contractors; and through aftermarket sales of components as provisioning spares or replacements. The company?s Energy segment designs, produces, and services systems and products for the management of fuel, air, fluids, gases, electricity, and motion. Its products include power converters, actuato rs, valves, pumps, injectors, solenoids, ignition systems, governors, electronics, and devices that measure, communicate, and protect low and medium voltage electrical distribution systems for use in industrial gas turbines, aero-derivative turbines, reciprocating engines, electrical grids, wind turbines, and compressors. This segment sells its products OEMs and tier-one prime contractors, through aftermarket sales or replacements; provides other related services to OEM customers, as well as directly to end users or distributors. Woodward, Inc was founded in 1870 and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Gerson]

  Woodward (NASDAQ: WWD) is projected to post its Q1 earnings at $0.71 per share on revenue of $548.45 million.

  TD Ameritrade Holding (NYSE: AMTD) is estimated to report its Q1 earnings at $0.33 per share on revenue of $735.85 million.

• [By Seth Jayson]

  Woodward (Nasdaq: WWD  ) reported earnings on April 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

  The 10-second takeaway
  For the quarter ended March 31 (Q2), Woodward missed estimates on revenues and beat slightly on earnings per share.

Top 5 Industrial Disributor Companies To Invest In Right Now: Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX)

Market Vectors-Russia ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the price and yield performance of the DAXglobal Russia+ Index (the Russia+ Index). The Russia+ Index includes a basket of securities of 30 of the most heavily traded Russian companies that have listings on global exchanges, either through an American depository receipt (ADR), a global depository receipt (GDR) or local Russian shares. The Russia+ Index, which was launched in March 2007, is a modified market capitalization-weighted index designed to track the movements of certain depository receipts (DRs) and stocks of publicly traded companies that are domiciled in Russia, and traded in Russia and on global exchanges. The Russia+ Index consists of companies with market capitalization greater than $150 million that have a daily average traded volume of at least $1 million over the past six months. The Russia+ Index includes energy companies, such as Lukoil, OAO Gazprom and Surgutneftgaz; utility company, Unified Energy Systems; steel manufacturing firms, such as Mechel OAO and Evraz Group SA; mining firm, JSC MMC Norilsk Nickel; communications firms, such as Mobile TeleSystems OJSC and Vimpel-Communications, and Sberbank.

The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in stocks and depositary receipts (DRs) of publicly traded companies that are domiciled in Russia. Publicly traded companies that are domiciled in Russia means companies organized in, or for which the principal trading market is in Russia; companies that, alone or on a consolidated basis, have 50% or more of their assets invested in Russia, or companies that alone or on a consolidated basis derive 50% or more of their revenues primarily from either goods produced, sales made or services performed in Russia. The Fund, utilizing a passive or indexing investment approach, attempts to approximate the investment performance of the Russia+ Index by investing in a portfolio of securities that generally replicate the Russia+ Index. The Fund! will hold all of the securities that comprise the Russia+ Index in proportion to their weightings in the Russia+ Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 95% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Russia+ Index. The Russia+ Index is calculated and maintained by the Deutsche Borse (the Index Provider).

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matthew McCall]

  Market Vectors Russia ETF (NYSE: RSX)

  The Ukraine/Russia conflict heightened this weekend and some experts are predicting an all-out war over Crimea. On Monday morning the MICEX Index was lower by eight percent and the Russian Ruble was tumbling. The largest Russian ETF in the U.S. is RSX, which was already down 2.4 percent last Friday. Investors can expect massive selling for the ETF today on the open.

• [By Louis Navellier]

  It is surreal to see how depressed Russian shares are, in general. They are still underwater since 2007, as measured by the Market Vectors Russia ETF (RSX) ��charted above vs. the S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The Russian economy has grown significantly since then, and so have the earnings and revenues of the mainstream Russian companies.

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  The Dow Jones Industrials (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) celebrated the apparent lessening of tension along the Ukraine-Russia border Tuesday, climbing almost 228 points and more than regaining all of the ground the average lost Monday. Whipsaws in the Russian market were even more dramatic, as the Market Vectors Russia ETF (NYSEMKT: RSX  ) gained 4% today after falling almost 7% Monday. As confusing as wildly thrashing markets can be for investors, the Dow's moves over the past two days serve as valuable experience that every investor can learn from. Let's take a look at three lessons from the Dow so far this week.

5 Best Cheapest Stocks To Buy Right Now: Central Fund of Canada Limited (CEF)

Central Fund of Canada is an closed-ended commodity mutual fund launched and managed by Central Group Alberta, Ltd. It invests in the commodity markets. The fund primarily invests in commodities like silver and gold. Central Fund of Canada was formed on November 15, 1961 and is domiciled in Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Parnell]

  It also remains worthwhile to hedge stock allocations to protect against any major downside event along the way. This includes positions with low correlations such as the PIMCO Total Return ETF (BOND) or the PIMCO Global Advantage Inflation Linked Bond ETF (ILB). This also includes allocations that are likely to rally sharply in the event of a stock pullback but can also continue to rise along with the market such as long-term Treasuries (TLT) or Build America Bonds (BAB). And despite the recent thrashing they have endured, the precious metals complex including gold (GLD), silver (SLV), platinum (PPLT) and palladium (PALL) continue to provide attractive long-term portfolio diversification benefits. I remain long all of these metals via the Central GoldTrust (GTU), the Central Fund of America (CEF), the Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV) and the Sprott Physical Platinum and Palladium Trust (SPPP).

Top 5 Industrial Disributor Companies To Invest In Right Now: Exelis Inc (XLS)

Exelis Inc. (Exelis), incorporated on May 4, 2011, is engaged in Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) related products and systems and information and technical services, which the Company supplies to military, government and commercial customers in the United States and globally. The Company's customers include the United States Department of Defense (DoD), including the United States Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force, and its prime contractors, the United States Government intelligence agencies, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allied foreign governments and domestic and foreign commercial customers. As a prime contractor, subcontractor, or preferred supplier, the Company participates in many high priority defense and non-defense programs in the United States. In January 2013, it acquired C4i Pty. Ltd. In February 2014, Exelis, Inc purchased FareSight, ARC's Web-based tool for corporate air travel optimization.

The Company operates in two segments: C4ISR Electronics and Systems, and Information and Technical Services. The Company's C4ISR Electronics and Systems segment provides communications, electronic warfare, imaging and image-processing, radar and sonar systems, space systems, and aerostructures for government and commercial customers globally. The Company's Information and Technical Services segment provides a range of systems integration, network design and development, cyber, intelligence, operations, sustainment, advanced engineering, logistics, space launch and range-support solutions for a range of the United States military and government agency customers. The Company has successfully completed and integrated several acquisitions over the last five years, which has broadened its product and technology portfolio and expanded its customer base.

C4ISR Electronics and Systems

Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS) is a Electro! nic Warfare Countermeasures (ECM) and engaged in space microelectronics, mine-defense solutions and antennas. IEWS develops, produces and sells electronic warfare solutions to DoD services, classified customers and to allied nations. IEWS is a key player on platforms, such as the strike fighter, the F-18, and Special Operations Forces (SOF) MH-60s and MH-47, and also holds electronic warfare positions on the B-1B, B-52, CV-22, C-130 and F-16 (International) platforms. The Company is a provider of mechanical and combined influences mine sweeping devices to the United States Navy. IEWS is engaged in Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA), fielding systems on the B-1, B-52, F-16, F-18, SOF C-130s and the EA-6B. Communication Systems and Force Protection Systems (CFPS) is a engaged in the design and manufacture of radio frequency (RF)-based systems. The business has fielded more than 25,000 CREW Vehicle Receiver/Jammer (CVRJ) systems, in use by the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. The Company also specializes in tactical, satellite, wireless and special mission communications systems; information assurance and cryptographic systems; Global Positioning Systems (GPS); mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) solutions, and integrated C3 solutions for the United States and allied forces, as well as many government agencies. Products include SINCGARS, deployed military tactical radio program globally with more than 650,000 units in use in more than 35 countries. CFPS is also the developer of the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW).

The Company's Night Vision and Imaging business is a engaged in image intensification, sensor fusion and digital night vision technology, integrated power and sensing devices, and decision support software and services solutions, which manage, exploit, analyze, visualize, interpret, and disseminate image related data. The Company is a developer, producer, and supplier of Generation 3 images intensification technology for the United States and allied military forces, as ! well as t! he federal homeland security market, and the Company is a producer of night vision products globally. The Company provides AN /PVS-14 and AN /PVS-7 ground night visions goggles and spare image intensifier tubes to the the United States military and allies, through foreign military sales, and the Company is a supplier to the United States military for the AN/AVS-6 and AN/AVS-9 aviation night visions goggle, which provides rotary- and fixed-wing pilots the ability to operate in extreme low-light situations. The Company is a supplier of the 2nd generation ENVG(O) system, the Spiral Enhanced Night Vision Goggle (SENVG), to the United States military. In addition the Company offers integrated software solutions, which scientists, defense and intelligence professionals, Geographic Information System users, researchers, and medical researches professionals use to turn complex data into useful information. The Company delivers streaming imagery and video data in an environment challenged by information overloads.

The Company's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems business serves a range of government, civil and commercial customers with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, provide actionable data, and protect property and human life. The Company's capabilities include remote sensing payloads for ground, air and space, offering active and motion imaging, which provide data processing, exploitation, and dissemination and system performance modeling and simulation. The Company also provides solutions, which map and monitors the earth for a range of commercial and governmental users. The Company's sensors provide the commercial resolution space-based imagery in the United States.

Radar, Reconnaissance and Acoustic Systems (R2A) provides radio frequency (RF) and acoustic surveillance sensors for both domestic and international defense customers, with a portfolio of related technology-based products in the commercial area. R2A's capabilities include d! efense su! rveillance radars, air traffic control radars, command and control, towed and hull mount sonars, tactical data links and airborne multifunction radars. The R2A business also provides electronic warfare and signal intelligence systems for reconnaissance and surveillance, with monitoring and signal processing systems and equipment for Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) applications.

Integrated Structures (IS) is a designer and producer of aircraft-armament suspension and release equipment, weapons interface systems, and advanced composite structures and subsystems for military and commercial customers. IS is an advanced designers and manufacturers of lightweight advanced fiber-reinforced composite structures. The Company has supplied composites to aerospace prime contractors, including Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Sikorsky and BAE Systems.

The Company's Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) business is a total GPS navigation systems supplier providing GPS payload, receiver and control solutions. The next generation Global Positioning System Operational Control System (GPS OCX) provide command, control and mission support for current and future GPS satellites based on a modern, service-oriented architecture, which will integrate a government and industry open system standard. The Company is providing the key navigation processing elements and precision monitors station receivers during the current phase of the GPS OCX program, which includes advanced anti-jam capabilities, and system security, accuracy and reliability.

Information and Technical Services

The Company's Communication, Command and Control Systems (C3S) business provides systems engineering, lifecycle sustainment, logistic support, modernization, and operations and maintenance for the United States military launch, test and training ranges, NASA's Ground Communications Networks and ot! her the U! nited States Government assets globally. C3S supports complex mission requirements, which covers a spectrum of support, from facilities maintenance to reverse engineering of legacy systems. Key areas of support include system engineering, sustainment, logistics, depot maintenance, software engineering and configuration management for range instrumentation, such as tracking, telemetry, optical, weather, communications, and command & control networks and systems. The Company is a contractor on NASA's Space Communications Network Services (SCNS) contract for the Goddard Space Flight Center, which provides communications and tracking services for a range of Earth-orbiting spacecraft, such as the International Space Station. The Company operates, maintain, and sustain the communications networks and infrastructure, which supports deep space exploration missions, such as the Cassini mission to Saturn and the Mars Rovers. The Company is also the contractor for the Joint Spectrum Center's (JSC) Electromagnetic Spectrum Engineering Services contracts, where the Company provides engineering systems support, technical analysis, test support, and long-term strategic planning. C3S also provides payload processing and launch services for numerous government agencies. These systems and assets are critical to the launch range and space communications network infrastructures, including air, land and sea training range for the United States Navy, the United States Air Force space launch ranges on the United States East and West Coasts and NASA's space ground communications networks.

The Company's Advanced Information Systems business serves a range of federal customers in defense, intelligence and homeland security. The Company serves missions in military and national intelligence, deterrence and defenses against chemical, biological, radiological nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats, strategic programs and other core defense programs. The Company develops information-enabled solutions for the United States! Governme! nt customers.

Afghanistan Programs (AP) consists of two contracts with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to provide facilities operations, maintenance and training services for the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the Combined Security Transition Command in both Northern and Southern Afghanistan (ANSF Facilities Support programs). Under these two contracts, AP provides operations and maintenance support for more than 300 ANSF locations in Afghanistan, while simultaneously training Afghans to assume responsibility for the facilities at the completion of the contract. AP also supports the warfighter under the Logistics Civilian Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), which provides logistics and supply operations, airfield operations and transportation support to the United States warfighter and to the Afghanistan National Security Forces.

The Company provides the FAA with engineering expertise and full system solutions in the development and implementation of a modernized air traffics system. The Company's core program is the ADS-B system: the cornerstone program of the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) initiative to modernize from a ground-based system of air traffic control to a satellite-based system of air traffic management. As a contractor on ADS-B, the Company is designing, building and operating a nationwide system of radio communications, telecommunications networks, information technology and software to deliver accurate, networked, real-time surveillance data to the automated systems of the FAA. The Company is developing concepts under the Systems Engineering 2020 (SE2020) contract. The work spans all dimensions of a national effort to transform air traffic control, including ground systems, avionics, aircraft, air traffic control rules and procedures, human factors, safety and security, environmental processes and standards.

Middle East Programs (MEP) provides oversight and management for the Company's teams working in t! hat regio! n. The core capabilities of the MEP include logistics, vehicle maintenance and repair, facility and utilities maintenance and repair services, civil engineering, minor construction, transportation services, base operations, guard services, and emergency fire and life support services. MEP also maintains a range of equipment, from small arms to Patriot missiles, performing maintenance tasks both domestically and overseas. Logistics services also include transport of soldiers and equipment for combat operations. The Company's vehicle maintenance and repair contract is its Kuwait based Army Preposition Stock-5 (APS-5 Kuwait) contract.

The Communications and Information Systems (CYBER) business supports a range of the United States and Joint Forces military activities, as well as Federal civilian communications infrastructures globally, ranging from wideband satellite communications systems to network operations and management services. CYBER's capabilities include network management; mobile and fixed satellite communications operations and maintenance (SATCOM O&M); help desk support; switch, node and router support; database development; engineering; furnishing and installation of communications systems; information assurance of protected military networks, and field and depot level maintenance of communications equipment. As the prime contractor for the United States Army Network Command's Total Army Communications for Southwest Asia, central Asia and Africa program (TACSWACAA), CYBER maintains operational availability and information security for network resources in the battlefield network ever deployed. For the United States Southern Command, it operates and maintains tethered aerostats, which perform core drug interdiction and air sovereignty missions along the United States southern border. Communications support includes operations and maintenance for missions, such as the Defense Red Switch Network, which provides the President, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, combatant co! mmanders ! and various agencies with secure communications technology and systems.

The United States and Europe Programs is centered on logistics, base operations and infrastructure support to multiple military and governmental agencies in the United States and Europe. The business consists of supporting contracts with the United States Air Force and United States Army, including bases in the United States and Germany. The Company provides full spectrum base operating support, logistics, supply, maintenance and security to each of these installations. United States and Europe programs also focus on the nature of surface, rail and air transportation services, all life support services, as well as civil engineering and minor construction services.

The Company competes with Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Boeing Company, Raytheon Company, General Dynamics Corporation, L-3 Communications Corporation, SAIC Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Harris Corporation, BAE Systems, Inc., Thales Group, EADS N.V., Finmeccanica S.p.A., DynCorp, KBR and Fluor.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Smith]

  Defense contractor Exelis (NYSE: XLS  ) landed a sizable Pentagon contract Thursday. The award, for $125.7 million, came in the form of an option-exercise extending a previously awarded firm-fixed-price production contract to supply the U.S. Navy with 62 AN/ALQ-214(V)4 On-Board Jammer Systems as part of Full Rate Production Lot 10.

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  Exelis Inc. (NYSE: XLS) is a leader in military technology covering everything from surveillance to communications to advanced materials.

  For instance, it has 40 years' experience building lightweight composite assemblies used in military airplanes and helicopters. Exelis also makes night vision goggles that provide voice and data communications in a secure format.

Top 5 Industrial Disributor Companies To Invest In Right Now: Regal Entertainment Group(RGC)

Regal Entertainment Group, through its subsidiaries, operates a theatre circuit in the United States. The company develops, acquires, and operates multi-screen theatres primarily in mid-sized metropolitan markets and suburban growth areas of larger metropolitan markets under the Regal Cinemas, United Artists, and Edwards brand names. As of February 13, 2012, it operated 6,614 screens in 527 theatres in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Regal Entertainment Group was founded in 2002 and is based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sean Williams]

  Other companies, specifically in the service industry -- which pay a broad spectrum of wages -- have also been cutting jobs and/or hours in direct response to Obamacare. Movie theater chain Regal Entertainment (NYSE: RGC  ) cut thousands of workers' weekly hours to 29 or less in order to exempt itself from having to provide them health care. Companies in excess of 50 employees are required to provide access to health care for their employees and could be asked to step in and help if the cost of health care exceeds 9.5% of that employee's income. Sure, a worker whose hours are cut back from 40 to 25 may be eligible for bigger health care subsidies, but at what cost? They've just lost 15 hours of weekly pay on a regular basis as a direct cause of Obamacare's upcoming implementation, which will affect countless other aspects of their life beyond health care!

ELS Stock: Live Large With This REIT

Popular Posts: 3 High-Yield Stocks on the Road Less TraveledAMZN Stock: What Do Amazon Earnings Have in Store?Why Retirement Investors Should Always Hold Energy Stocks Recent Posts: Rent-to-Own Stocks Look Compelling ELS Stock: Live Large With This REIT Why Retirement Investors Should Always Hold Energy Stocks View All Posts

Just imagine nice houses with resort-style amenities, situated in a nice community, probably with a pool — and maybe even a golf course nearby.

I'm talking about manufactured home communities. In the case of Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), 70% are communities for those 55 years of age or older. It's a great niche, and this REIT has grown into 370 communities and resorts in 32 states and British Columbia, which contain 140,000 actual sites. The properties certainly look nice on the company's home page, and community living for seniors has taken on increased popularity over the past twenty years.

This is the kind of operation that I like, because once someone moves into a community like this, they are very likely to remain for quite some time. Not that someone who chooses to move out won't get replaced by another buyer (the average home cost is only $75,000), but the company reduces its market price risk by effectively capturing long-term homeowners.

And because ELS stock must pay out 90% of income as a dividend anyway, it's particularly reassuring to know that such income should be relatively consistent.

ELS stock just reported results for Q1. Funds from operations increased $6.4 million to $71.4 million (78 cents per share), compared to $65.0 million, year-over-year. Net income increased $3.1 million to $38.1 million, or 46 cents per share. That's a solid gain of 10% across the board.

These increases came on rather modest revenue gains in the 6% range. ELS stock reports "property operating revenues," which increased $10.5 million to $186.4 million. Income from property operations increased $6.7 million to $111.0 million.

A big concern for most REITs is mortgage debt. Equity LifeStyle's debt structure is prudent, and the company is always trying to pay off more expensive debt and/or replace it with lower-cost debt. In fact, ELS stock paid off $20.7 million in mortgages in Q1, which carried a 5.63% weighted average interest rate. That was done in conjunction with a year-long refinance, which netted the company $430 million in proceeds at a mere 4.54% weighted average.

The best part is that the debt doesn't mature until 2034 at the earliest. That's the beauty of mortgage debt: It costs very little, so if a company can generate more than enough revenue to pay that debt and make money to boot, it's a real business.

And the company is indeed able to cover those interest payments — almost four times over. ELS also has a cash backstop of $56 million and continues to expand via acquisition. It completed two purchases in the quarter for $61 million. The advantage of this niche market is that an entire community can be scooped up for eight figures, from which multiples can be earned over the life of the property.

With a 3.2% dividend yield and a solid business model, ELS stock is a good choice for core and retirement portfolios alike.

Lawrence Meyers does not own any security mentioned.

"The Wolverine" Tops Weekend Box Office

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Wolverine slashed monsters and minions to debut atop the weekend box office.

The Fox film featuring Hugh Jackman's sixth turn as the claw-wielding superhero opened with $55 million in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Last weekend's top movie, Warner Bros.' low-budget horror The Conjuring, slipped to second place, adding another $22.1 million to its take.

Despicable Me 2 was in third with $16 million. The Universal animated sequel, with its cast of cute, yellow minions, has made more than $600 million worldwide since it came out four weeks ago.

The Wolverine, which is set in Japan and features an international cast, earned another $86.1 million overseas. The film's opening-week take surpassed the $120 million it cost to make, said Chris Aronson, Fox's head of domestic distribution.

"It's a huge opening for the clawed one," he said. "It played equally well from Maine to Maui."

Another Fox film, the animated snail-racing tale Turbo, was in fourth place with $13.3 million. Adam Sandler's Grown Ups 2 followed with $11.5 million.

Woody Allen's latest, Blue Jasmine, enjoyed a stellar opening of its own, though on a much smaller scale. Starring Cate Blanchett, the film opened in just six theaters but still collected $612,767.

"It's one of the biggest opening per-theater averages ever for a non-animated film," said Paul Dergarabedian of box-office tracker Hollywood.com.

Ticket sales this weekend were up almost 30% over the same weekend last summer, he said.

"It was a good weekend to be a moviegoer because the choices just got a lot more interesting," Dergarabedian said, noting a mix that includes animated, independent and big-budget action offerings.

Fruitvale Station, the Sundance winner already generating Oscar buzz, expanded to theaters across the country and edged its way into the top 10, contributing to a summer box office that is up more than 10% over last year.

link

Ex-BofA finance chief reaches $7.5M settlement

Former Bank of America finance chief Joe Price will pay $7.5 million to settle charges he failed to alert investors about forecasts of $9 billion in losses at Merrill Lynch before bank shareholders approved the purchase of the brokerage in 2009.

Announced Friday by the New York attorney general's office, the settlement resolves one of the last remaining major actions filed against individual corporate executives in the wake of the national financial crisis. Former Bank of America chief executive Ken Lewis agreed to a similar $10 million settlement in March.

As part of the settlement, Price also agreed to an order barring him from serving as an officer or director of any public company for 18 months. He neither admitted nor denied any wrongdoing.

Price had previously denied doing anything improper and said he had raised questions with bank lawyers about whether the losses should be disclosed, his attorney, William Jeffress, said Friday. The former executive agreed to the settlement "to end the toll of the litigation on himself, his family and his career," said Jeffress, who indicated Bank of America is funding the cost.

5 Best Heal Care Stocks To Buy Right Now

The nation's second-largest bank agreed to buy the New York-headquartered brokerage and investment manager in late 2008 during the height of the financial crisis. The acquisition was completed in January 2009 after shareholders approved the deal.

A New York lawsuit filed in 2010 alleged that Charlotte-based Bank of America and its top executives improperly withheld information about the true extent of Merrill Lynch's ballooning losses.

"Today's action sends a message that conduct harming investors, shareholders and the public will not go unpunished," Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said. "I'm pleased to close the final chapter in our litigation over Bank of America's merger with Merrill."

Schneiderman con! tinued the case originally filed by predecessor Andrew Cuomo, who's now New York's governor.

Merrill Lynch, which absorbed Bank of America's securities unit, has become one of the bank's most profitable business units in recent years.

Health Stocks: Are Premium Grocers and Others Worth a Buy?

Popular Posts: 10 Potential Short Selling Candidates for 2014AMZN: Amazon Stock Has a Big, Boring Problem3 European Dividend Stocks to Buy Recent Posts: Health Stocks: Are Premium Grocers and Others Worth a Buy? AMZN: Amazon Stock Has a Big, Boring Problem Emerging Markets: Investing Where Others Fear to Tread View All Posts

There are times when I question whether I made the correct career choice — like when I see job openings for professional craft beer brewer. Upscale grocer Whole Foods Market (WFM) is creating its own in-house beers and needs a proper brew master to lend his expertise. I look forward to sampling their handiwork.

Source: Flickr

It’s a little ironic that Whole Foods — a grocer known for selling healthy, organic food — is branching into something as delightfully unhealthy as beer brewing, but the trend towards healthier eating and the popularily of microbrews are driven by some of the same demographic shifts–and Whole Foods knows its customers well.

Generation X (Americans in their late-30s to very early 50s) and the Millennials (Americans in their early 20s to early 30s) have very different tastes than the Baby Boomers did at the same age when it comes to diet. And the Boomers themselves are changing their habits as they age.

These differences are going to create some clear winners and losers across a broad spectrum of consumer products I’d loosely lump into the “health and wellness” sector: everything from organic grocers to vitamin hawkers at the mall. But success at the cash register won’t necessarily translate to success for shareholders.

Health Stocks — Premium Grocers

Let’s take a look, starting with premium grocers. I wrote about Whole Foods recently, noting that groceries are a rotten business. The business of selling food and basic staples is brutally competitive and tends to have modest margins. There is one big exception, however: Premium or specialty grocers such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or HEB's Central Market.

These stores — which often offer organic options and more exotic international or craft fare — have had tremendous success in recent years.  Whole Foods — the only publicly traded upscale grocer of any size or scale — is also the only grocer that can compete with Walmart (WMT) in terms of profitability (see my previous article).

The rise of premium grocers is backed by overlapping macro trends that should have years — if not decades — left to run.

Let's start with the elephant in the room: the aging of America's Baby Boomers. As a generation, the Baby Boomers have been getting progressively pickier in their dietary choices over the past 30 years as the exigencies of age have forced them to take better care of themselves.

Don't underestimate Generation X, either. Generation X's preferences have been the driven force behind the internationalization of American food and for the trendy fusion restaurants that crop up in chic neighborhoods like weeds. The Millennials are starting to make their preferences felt as well, and — like Generation X — they have tended to gravitate towards premium foods to the extent that they can afford them at this stage of their lives.

And finally, you have the issue of rising incomes. For the educated and upwardly mobile — the demographic groups that tend to flock to premium and organic grocers — life in America has never been better. The unemployment rate is only about 4% for Americans with a college degree, and the figure drops to just 2.3% for those with a professional degree.

All of this points to a rosy picture for premium grocery chains. Yet the stock performancee paint a very different picture. Compare the performance of publicly traded premium grocers — Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM), The Fresh Market (TFM), and Fairway Group Holdings (FWM) — against that of the ultimate common-man's grocer, Walmart. Since last October, Walmart is the only grocer stock that hasn't seen substantial declines. What gives? I have one word for you: valuation.

Company	Ticker	Trailing P/E	Forward P/E	Price/Sales
Whole Foods Market	WFM	32.1	25.2	1.36
Sprouts Farmers Market	SFM	91.7	41.9	2.05
The Fresh Market	TFM	32.7	18.4	1.1
Fairway Group Holdings	FWM	N/A	N/A	0.42
Walmart	WMT	16.0	13.5	0.52

Looking at the price/sales ratio, Whole Foods is almost three times as expensive as Walmart — yes, Walmart, the most successful retailer in history. Sprouts is nearly four times as expensive. The Fresh Market and Fairway are a little more reasonably priced, but they’re far smaller and off the radar for a lot of investors.

So, is the foul odor coming from the produce sector just another manifestation of the momentum stock rout? The high-fliers of the past year have had high-profile faceplants during the past six weeks, with many posting double-digit price declines since the beginning of March.

After the recent declines, are the specialty grocers a buy?

No, or at least not yet. The macro trends are durable and real; of this I have little doubt. But it comes back to the economics of the grocery business. Mainstream grocers have not sat idly while the Whole Foods and Trader Joes of the world have poached their customers. Safeway (SWY), Kroger (KR) and even Walmart have expanded their premium and organic offerings in recent years. And while premium grocers can charge more for their products, this ability has limits. Grocery shoppers tend to be a demanding and fickle lot.

Health Stocks — Casual Dining

Top Solar Companies To Watch In Right Now

OK, so organic grocers are best avoided at current prices. But what about health-conscious casual dining?

A growing, high-margin business that fits the general theme of organic fare is Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), which avoids using genetically-modified food in most of its ingredients. Chipotle practically mints money with returns on equity consistently more than 20%. Chipotle also funds its expansion organically via cash flows and not via debt or share dilution.

Of course, Chipotle isn't cheap by any stretch. It currently trades hands at 48 times earnings. The stock has also been in freefall for the past month, down about $100 per share. Investors have been concerned that rising food costs will erode profitability, and they probably will — at least in the short term.

Organic fare isn’t cheap, and Chipotle’s margins have been pinched in recent years due to rising food costs, so Chipotle is raising prices for the first time in three years. The increase will in the range of 3% to 5%, or about 25 cents per burrito.

I don't make a habit of catching falling knives, so I wouldn't recommend buying CMG shares today. But I would be a buyer in the mid-$400s if the share price can stabilize.

Another healthy dining choice to keep your eye on? Try Zoes Kitchen (ZOES), which just recently went public. I always recommend caution when discussing small IPOs (ZOES has a market cap of just $500 million), but the macro trend of healthier eating combined with the recent trendiness of the Mediterranean diet should bode well for the chain.

Health Stocks — Packaged Diets and Supplements

Now that I have you salivating thinking about burritos, what about traditional "health" stocks such as diet products companies Weight Watchers (WTW) and Nutrisystem (NTRI) or vitamin and supplement retailer GNC Holdings (GNC)?

I would stay away from all of these and, if you are so inclined, look for opportunities to short. I'm simplifying, of course, but health-conscious Americans have figured out what should have been obvious years ago — if you eat healthier food, you get all of the nutrition you need. Taking a multivitamin pill with your morning coffee won’t "undo" the negative effects of the Egg McMuffin you ate with it. And recent research has shown that vitamins and supplements have no real health benefits and may actually be harmful if overused.

Demographically, shrink-wrapped diet products — the sort you might see on the Home Shopping Network — are a product for middle and working class Baby Boomers, which is a socioeconomic group that is declining in purchasing power and in economic importance. Generation X and the Millennials have not taken to these products, and I don’t expect them to. They’ve grown up expecting better.

Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA, is the chief investment officer of the investment firm Sizemore Capital Management. As of this writing, he was long WMT. Check out his new premium service, Macro Trend Investor, which includes a free copy of his e-book, The New Megatrend Investor: The Ultimate Buy-and-Hold Strategy That Will Make You Rich.

Chesapeake’s Troubles Make It a Stock to Stay Away From

Chesapeake Energy (CHK), America's second-largest natural gas producer, has struggled with its numbers as the natural gas market had had a tough time of late. Chesapeake incurred a net loss of $159 million in the last reported quarter. It was, however, able to increase its revenue by 28% to $4.54 billion.

Tough Times

Nevertheless, the dynamics of the natural gas industry do not look very impressive. Therefore, this will affect the company's performance in the long run and lead to disappointment. Moreover, Chesapeake's daily production declined 3% in the last quarter as a result of reduction in well connections. Chesapeake has also terminated drilling rig contracts recently as it incurred heavy expenses due to severe weather conditions and other macroeconomic headwinds such as growing demand of shale gas that is affecting natural gas pricing, eventually leading to further loss of its market share.

Chesapeake is concentrating on various aspects of its business to get rid of these tough situations and has definite and concrete strategies to raise its cash through sale of assets that will assist the company to decrease its expenditure and boost its income. In addition, Chesapeake is planning to spin off the oil field service division and raise about $4.4 billion. Chesapeake is also focusing on discovering and developing natural gas and oil assets onshore in the U.S. through these spin-off strategies. This could perhaps turn the company to profitability in the long run.

Selling Assets

In addition, Chesapeake has also declared the sale of up to 437 natural gas units and related assets as natural gas pricing remains unfavorable due to rising demand of shale gas. The evolution of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing over the past few years has allowed companies to tap shale gas at cheaper rates. This, on the contrary, has led to increased production of natural gas in the U.S., well above the growth in consumption that has affected its price ultimately.

However, Chesapeake has recently noticed significant increase in prices of natural gas abroad due to accelerated export demand. Hence, the company expects much better financial and operational performance in the current fiscal 2014. Further, exports are expected to play a key role in lifting natural gas prices in the U.S. despite surging supply from shale gas resources.

In addition to this, electricity demand is also expected to grow in the future, a positive sign for the company that will certainly help natural gas price to shoot up, because of the fact that natural gas has much lower carbon intensity compared to coal. This provides the company an attractive alternative fuel for new power generation plants because of relatively low capital costs and favorable heat rates. But, analysts expect the momentum in reduction of natural gas prices will continue in the future as well. Even Chesapeake feels the same pressure on the natural gas pricing that is supposed to decline in the future, therefore Chesapeake is focusing on asset sales to maintain profitability, or else it would be in dire straits.

But the company can take heart from the fact that natural gas is expected to remain the fastest growing global energy source until 2013, growing at a rate of 1.9%, regardless of current pricing. However, the shore-term prediction does not look promising as natural gas prices have declined in the past six to seven years.

Conclusion

Overall, the present scenario for Chesapeake is very complex. As a result, investors would be better off if they don't invest in the stock.

Currently 2.50/512345 Rating: 2.5/5 (2 votes)

Voters:

Subscribe via Email Subscribe RSS Comments Vgm - 11 hours ago

Your view contrasts with that of Longleaf, as discussed in their latest Quarterly Report from last week. But I'd agree the current price level is not attractive entry point:

"Energy company Chesapeake retreated 5% in the quarter following a strong 2013. Short-term questions about production levels, the mix between gas and liquids, and additional asset sales pressured the stock. Our appraisal, however, grew slightly due to successful cost reductions. CEO Doug Lawler has made substantial progress since taking the helm last year, and we believe his capital discipline and operational effectiveness will reward shareholders."

(I am long CHK and optimistic for its 3-5 year future)

Please leave your comment:
More GuruFocus Links

Latest Guru Picks	Value Strategies
Warren Buffett Portfolio	Ben Graham Net-Net
Real Time Picks	Buffett-Munger Screener
Aggregated Portfolio	Undervalued Predictable
ETFs, Options	Low P/S Companies
Insider Trends	10-Year Financials
52-Week Lows	Interactive Charts
Model Portfolios	DCF Calculator
RSS Feed	Monthly Newsletters
The All-In-One Screener	Portfolio Tracking Tool

MORE GURUFOCUS LINKS

Latest Guru Picks	Value Strategies
Warren Buffett Portfolio	Ben Graham Net-Net
Real Time Picks	Buffett-Munger Screener
Aggregated Portfolio	Undervalued Predictable
ETFs, Options	Low P/S Companies
Insider Trends	10-Year Financials
52-Week Lows	Interactive Charts
Model Portfolios	DCF Calculator
RSS Feed	Monthly Newsletters
The All-In-One Screener	Portfolio Tracking Tool

CHK STOCK PRICE CHART 29.02 (1y: +50%) $(function(){var seriesOptions=[],yAxisOptions=[],name='CHK',display='';Highcharts.setOptions({global:{useUTC:true}});var d=new Date();$current_day=d.getDay();if($current_day==5||$current_day==0||$current_day==6){day=4;}else{day=7;} seriesOptions[0]={id:name,animation:false,color:'#4572A7',lineWidth:1,name:name.toUpperCase()+' stock price',threshold:null,data:[[1366779600000,19.29],[1366866000000,19.28],[1366952400000,19.25],[1367211600000,19.33],[1367298000000,19.54],[1367384400000,19.19],[1367470800000,19.15],[1367557200000,19.25],[1367816400000,19.44],[1367902800000,19.13],[1367989200000,19.19],[1368075600000,19.58],[1368162000000,20.15],[1368421200000,20.56],[1368507600000,20.76],[1368594000000,20.66],[1368680400000,19.89],[1368766800000,20.27],[1369026000000,20.8],[1369112400000,20.85],[1369198800000,21.1],[1369285200000,21.66],[1369371600000,21.67],[1369717200000,22.16],[1369803600000,22.58],[1369890000000,22.53],[1369976400000,21.84],[1370235600000,22.18],[1370322000000,21.72],[1370408400000,21.52],[1370494800000,21.67],[1370581200000,22],[1370840400000,21.92],[1370926800000,21.3],[1371013200000,21.08],[1371099600000,21],[1371186000000,20.68],[1371445200000,21.04],[1371531600000,21.25],[1371618000000,20.8],[1371704400000,20.08],[1371790800000,20.22],[1372050000000,19.6],[1372136400000,19.79],[1372222800000,20.37],[1372309200000,20.58],[1372395600000,20.38],[1372654800000,20.77],[1372741200000,20.92],[1372827600000,21.01],[1373000400000,21.04],[1373259600000,20.93],[1373346000000,21.14],[1373432400000,21.4],[1373518800000,21.29],[1373605200000,21.24],[1373864400000,21.68],[1373950800000,21.75],[1374037200000,21.75],[1374123600000,22.33],[1374210000000,22.58],[1374469200000,22.4],[1374555600000,22.32],[1374642000000,22.2],[1374728400000,22.59],[1374814800000,22.85],[1375074000000,22.75],[1375160400000,23.05],[1375246800000,23.3],[1375333200000,24.95],[1375419600000,24.95],[1375678800000,25.48],[1375765200000,25.15],[1375851600000,24.85],[1375938000000,25.01],[1376024400000,25],[1376283600000,25.02],[1376370000000,25.03],[1376456400000,24.91],[1376542800000,24.99],[1376629200000,25],[1376888400000,24.77],[1376974800000,25.26],[1377061200000,25.25],[1377147600000,25.51],[1377234000000,26.23],[1377493200000,26.35],[1377579600000,2! 6.02],[1377666000000,26.34],[1377752400000,25.95],[1377838800000,25.81],[1378184400000,26.16],[1378270800000,26.12],[1378357200000,26.17],[1378443600000,26.03],[1378702800000,26.4],[1378789200000,26.34],[1378875600000,26.89],[1378962000000,26.92],[1379048400000,26.67],[1379307600000,26.52],[1379394000000,27.16],[1379480400000,27.3],[1379566800000,26.9],[1379653200000,26.58],[1379912400000,26.38],[1379998800000,26.38],[1380085200000,26.5],[1380171600000,26.41],[1380258000000,26.21],[1380517200000,25.88],[1380603600000,26.24],[1380690000000,26.17],[1380776400000,26.18],[1380862800000,26.5],[1381122000000,26.27],[1381208400000,26.05],[1381294800000,25.99],[1381381200000,26.41],[1381467600000,26.47],[1381726800000,26.45],[1381813200000,26.5],[1381899600000,27.53],[1381986000000,27.63],[1382072400000,28.25],[1382331600000,28.05],[1382418000000,28.19],[1382504400000,27.29],[1382590800000,28.37],[1382677200000,28.47],[1382936400000,28.16],[1383022800000,28.32],[1383109200000,28.15],[1383195600000,27.96],[1383282000000,28],[1383544800000,28.84],[1383631200000,28.14],[1383717600000,26.23],[1383804000000,25.4],[1383890400000,25.71],[1384149600000,25.69],[1384236000000,25.55],[1384322400000,25.92],[1384408800000,25.95],[1384495200000,25.88],[1384754400000,25.42],[1384840800000,25.3],[1384927200000,25.55],[1385013600000,26.33],[1385100000000,26.3],[1385359200000,26.27],[1385445600000,26.31],[1385532000000,26.65],[1385704800000,26.87],[1385964000000,26.78],[1386050400000,27.01],[1386136800000,27.1],[1386223200000,27.05],[1386309600000,26.48],[1386568800000,26.38],[1386655200000,26.81],[1386741600000,26.44],[1386828000000,26.73],[1386914400000,27],[1387173600000,26.77],[1387260000000,26.36],[1387346400000,26.64],[1387432800000,27.21],[1387519200000,27.11],[1387778400000,27.43],[1387864800000,27.61],[1388037600000,27.72],[1388124000000,27.49],[1388383200000,27.05],[1388469600000,27.14],[1388642400000,26.62],[1388728800000,26.42],[1388988000000,26.2],[1389074400000,26.31],[1389160800000,25.85],[1389247200000,25.61],[13! 893336000! 00,25.71],[1389592800000,25.15],[1389679200000,25.63],[1389765600000,25.46],[1389852000000,25.94],[1389938400000,25.45],[1390284000000,26.45],[1390370400000,27.13],[1390456800000,26.9],[1390543200000,26.88],[1390802400000,26.01],[1390888800000,26.76],[1390975200000,27.17],[1391061600000,26.98],[1391148000000,26.91],[1391407200000,25.99],[1391493600000,26.54],[1391580000000,26.21],[1391666400000,24.41],[1391752800000,24.59],[1392012000000,24.68],[1392098400000,24.82],[1392184800000,24.75],[1392271200000,24.95],[1392357600000,25.14],[1392703200000,25.83],[1392789600000,26.4],[1392876000000,26.65],[1392962400000,26.57],[1393221600000,27.29],[1393308000000,26.94],[1393394400000,25.61],[1393826400000,25.6],[1393912800000,25.67],[1393999200000,25.5],[1394085600000,25.52],[1394172000000,25.85],[1394427600000,25.63],[1394514000000,25.26],[1394600400000,25.14],[1394686800000,25.21],[1394773200000,25.03],[1395032400000,24.69],[1395118800000,24.95],[1395205200000,24.67],[1395291600000,24.69],[1395378000000,24.67],[1395637200000,24.71],[1395723600000,25.23],[1395810000000,24.82],[139589

Will ATRION Blow It Next Quarter?

There's no foolproof way to know the future for ATRION (Nasdaq: ATRI  ) or any other company. However, certain clues may help you see potential stumbles before they happen -- and before your stock craters as a result.

A cloudy crystal ball
In this series, we use accounts receivable and days sales outstanding to judge a company's current health and future prospects. It's an important step in separating the pretenders from the market's best stocks. Alone, AR -- the amount of money owed the company -- and DSO -- the number of days' worth of sales owed to the company -- don't tell you much. However, by considering the trends in AR and DSO, you can sometimes get a window onto the future.

Sometimes, problems with AR or DSO simply indicate a change in the business (like an acquisition), or lax collections. However, AR that grows more quickly than revenue, or ballooning DSO, can, at times, suggest a desperate company that's trying to boost sales by giving its customers overly generous payment terms. Alternately, it can indicate that the company sprinted to book a load of sales at the end of the quarter, like used-car dealers on the 29th of the month. (Sometimes, companies do both.)

Why might an upstanding firm like ATRION do this? For the same reason any other company might: to make the numbers. Investors don't like revenue shortfalls, and employees don't like reporting them to their superiors.

Is ATRION sending any potential warning signs? Take a look at the chart below, which plots revenue growth against AR growth, and DSO:

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Data is current as of last fully reported fiscal quarter. FQ = fiscal quarter.

The standard way to calculate DSO uses average accounts receivable. I prefer to look at end-of-quarter receivables, but I've plotted both above.

Watching the trends
When that red line (AR growth) crosses above the green line (revenue growth), I know I need to consult the filings. Similarly, a spike in the blue bars indicates a trend worth worrying about. ATRION's latest average DSO stands at 40.9 days, and the end-of-quarter figure is 46.7 days. Differences in business models can generate variations in DSO, and business needs can require occasional fluctuations, but all things being equal, I like to see this figure stay steady. So, let's get back to our original question: Based on DSO and sales, does ATRION look like it might miss its numbers in the next quarter or two?

Investors should watch the top line carefully during the next quarter or two. For the last fully reported fiscal quarter, ATRION's year-over-year revenue grew 14.5%, and its AR grew 40.4%. That's a yellow flag. End-of-quarter DSO increased 21.2% over the prior-year quarter. It was up 10.8% versus the prior quarter. That demands a good explanation. Still, I'm no fortuneteller, and these are just numbers. Investors putting their money on the line always need to dig into the filings for the root causes and draw their own conclusions.

10 Best Heal Care Stocks To Own Right Now

Looking for alternatives to ATRION? It takes more than great companies to build a fortune for the future. Learn the basic financial habits of millionaires next door and get focused stock ideas in our free report, "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich." Click here for instant access to this free report.

Add ATRION to My Watchlist.

Is College Worth the Debt? More Consumers Say No

Whatever their feelings on higher education, fewer consumers think the sometimes-massive loans incurred to get it are worth the trouble.

A report released Thursday by Mintel, a global reasearch firm, found just 20% of consumers think student loans are a good investment, down from 54% in 2012.

Mintel surveyed 2,217 Americans 18 and older.

In 2012, the majority or respondents were paying less than $300 a month (79%), and only 21% had payments over that amount. Two years later, half of respondents had monthly payments of $300 or less, and the percentage paying more than $300 every month increased to 30%. Furthermore, 5% were actually paying more than $1,000.

“Clearly there are other ways to go to school besides taking out an enormous amount of money to do so, but I think there’s also a question about the absolute value of the thousands of dollars or whatever that you’re going to spend to go to school,” Robyn Kaiserman, a financial services analyst at Mintel, told ThinkAdvisor on Monday.

She added that improvements in the economy might also contribute to falling enrollment rates at colleges. “There’s some thinking that the improvement in the economy is not helping college enrollment either, as some people who may have opted to get a job who couldn’t get a job and were going to school as their default position,” she said. “Now that there are jobs, some of those people are going to work instead of going to school, or they’re starting school and dropping out to get the work that they couldn’t get a couple of years ago.”

The survey found, however, that paying back student loans might appear to be worse than it is. Almost two-thirds of respondents in 2012 said they were having a hard time paying back their loans. That fell to 42% in 2014. The 2012 respondents were also more likely to worry that their student loan debt would prevent them from getting a mortgage than the 2014 respondents.

“I was kind of surprised by that, frankly,” Kaiserman said. “I’m sure it has to do with the economy and [how] it’s a little bit better. It feels better for a lot of people.”

Eleven percent of respondents said their student debt was between $50,000 and $100,000, according to Kaiserman, and 16% said they had debt between $10,000 and $50,000. More than half said they had no student loan debt, but that fell significantly from 2012, when 81% of respondents reported no debt, Kaiserman said.

Mintel noted that while tuitions and fees are still increasing, the rate is slowing. The rate of increase for in-state tuition and fees at four-year public institutions rose only 2.9% for the 2013-14 year, down from 4.5% in 2012-13 and 8.5% for 2011-12. The current increase is the smallest it’s been in 30 years, according to Mintel.

Although price increases are slowing down, enrollment has fallen. For the 2013-14 school year, enrollment fell 1.5% from the previous year, according to the National Student Clearinghouse, after falling 2% for the 2012-13 year.

“It’s not so much whether the college education is worth it, but whether the individual school is worth it. Is it worth it to spend $250,000 versus whatever your state university costs? Or is it better to go to the community college for two years then transfer to the four-year school? There’s a lot more conversation around that.”

Hasbro Earnings Buoyed by Sales of Girls' Toys

Steven Senne/AP PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Hasbro returned to profitability in its first quarter, driven by sales of girls' toys such as My Little Pony and Nerf Rebelle. The prior-year results were dragged down by restructuring charges. Hasbro's (HAS) latest earnings topped Wall Street estimates but revenue was short of what analysts expected. Sales of girls' products rose 21 percent. Sales of My Little Pony Equestria Girls dolls also resonated with customers. The boys' category reported a 2 percent increase in sales, helped by Nerf and Marvel products. This was partially offset by weakening Beyblade sales. Game sales fell 4 percent, hindered partly by declining sales of trading card game Duel Masters. Sales of preschool products slipped 4 percent due to soft sales of core Playskool items. Sales for the entertainment and licensing division rose 13 percent thanks to the inclusion of Backflip Studios. International sales increased 5 percent, led by Europe and Latin America. In the U.S. and Canada, sales edged down 1 percent. The Pawtucket, R.I.-based company earned $32.1 million, or 24 cents a share, for the period ended March 30. That compares with a loss of $6.7 million, or 5 cents a share, a year earlier. Stripping out favorable tax adjustments of 10 cents a share, earnings were 14 cents a share. The year-ago period was pulled down by restructuring charges totaling 14 cents a share. It also had favorable tax adjustments of 4 cents a share a year ago. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected earnings for the latest period of 10 cents a share, on average. Revenue edged up 2 percent to $679.5 million from $663.7 million, but missed Wall Street's estimate of $690.1 million. Last week rival Mattel (MAT) reported an unexpected first-quarter loss, hurt by soft Barbie sales and markdowns to clear excess inventory. Hasbro Inc. shares climbed $2.39, or 4.4 percent, to $57 in premarket trading Monday about an hour ahead of the market opening. Its shares are down slightly so far this year.

#WOW! Twitter soars 90% in IPO

  Twitter now under Wall St. microscope NEW YORK (CNNMoney) It's official: Wall Street #hearts Twitter. Shares of Twitter soared almost 90% above their offering price in their first day on the stock market.

Twitter priced its initial public offering Wednesday night at $26 a share. The stock debuted at 10:49 a.m. ET on Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange, and the first trade came in at $45.10 a share.

Shares quickly jumped to a high of $50.09 -- a gain of 93% over the IPO price -- before dropping back a bit to trade at about $48.55 by late afternoon.

A price near $49 a share values Twitter (TWTR) at $26.4 billion.

Top Services Companies To Invest In Right Now

A 'clean' debut: Twitter's early pop is similar to that of LinkedIn (LNKD), which more than doubled in its first day on the stock market. But it was Facebook's messy debut on the Nasdaq last year that had some individual investors worried ahead of Twitter's IPO. Luckily for Twitter, its offering went smoothly.

"We tried to have a very clean process [for the IPO] ... the team that worked on it inside the company was very methodical," Twitter CEO Dick Costolo said on CNBC earlier in the morning.

"Phew!" tweeted Anthony Noto, Twitter's top banker at Goldman Sachs (GS, Fortune 500), the IPO's lead underwriter, after trade started.

Twitter was the most actively traded stock in the U.S. on Thursday. More than 98 million shares had exchanged hands by late in the trading day.

Related story: 10 surprising stars of Twitter

Twitter isn't yet profitable: Twitter raised about $1.8 billion through the sale of 70 million shares Wednesday evening at $26 a share. The offering's underwriters also have the option to buy another 10.5 million shares from Twitter. By comparison, Facebook (FB, Fortune 500) raised $16 billion in its IPO.

But unlike Facebook, Twitter has yet to turn a profit. The company pulled in $317 million in sales in 2012, but ended up reporting a loss of $79.4 million.

For the first nine months of 2013, Twitter's revenue was $422 million. But losses also increased, to $134 million.

Twitter's business model revolves around ads. Twitter runs ads for corporate accounts, specific tweets and topics, and the sponsored content is tucked right into users' feeds! .

Search for AT&T on Twitter, and a "promoted tweet" from a rival such as Verizon or Sprint may pop up. A "who to follow" box suggests a promoted corporate account such as Macy's in the top slot. Advertisers can also place "trends" -- like the name of an album going on sale -- in the list of topics that are popular worldwide or in a specific city.

Related story: Wall Street reserved best Twitter IPO info for top clients

Who's getting rich off Twitter: Twitter insiders aren't selling shares in the IPO, but their stakes are extremely valuable.

Twitter co-founder Evan Williams is the company's largest individual shareholder with a 12% stake, which is worth $2.6 billion at Thursday's opening price of $45.10.

Peter Fenton, a Twitter board director and an early investor in the company, owns a stake worth $1.4 billion.

Williams' fellow co-founder, Jack Dorsey, holds shares worth nearly $1.1 billion, and company CEO Dick Costolo has a nearly $346 million stake. Williams and Dorsey's third partner, Biz Stone, isn't on the list of largest shareholders.

Six institutional investors own 5% or more of Twitter. The biggest winner is private equity firm Rizvi Traverse, which holds a nearly 18% stake that is now worth $3.8 billion.

The 2 Stocks Leading the Dow's Surge

Following a positive jobs report, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) is up 157 points, or 1.05%, to 15,198 as of 1:25 p.m. EDT. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) is up 0.92% to 1,637.

There were two U.S. economic releases today.

Report

Period

Actual

Previous

Non-farm payrolls	May	175,000	149,000
Unemployment rate	May	7.6%	7.5%

Investors were worried about the jobs report after Wednesday's private-sector payrolls report disappointed and depressed Dow stocks. The government's nonfarm payroll report showed that the economy added 175,000 jobs in May, beating expectations of 164,000 additional jobs.

US Change in Nonfarm Payrolls data by YCharts.

The jump in job creation was not enough to stop a rise in the unemployment rate to 7.6%, but that uptick was the result of more people entering the labor market. This is positive for the economy, as it means more people feel they can find a job. And a higher unemployment rate is good for asset prices, because it means the Fed will keep up its asset purchases. Currently, the Federal Reserve is buying $85 billion of long-term assets every month -- $45 billion of long-term Treasuries and $40 billion of mortgage-backed securities. The Fed has said that it will continue the purchases until inflation rises above 2% or unemployment falls below 6.5%. Inflation is currently running around 1%, and expectations for inflation going forward, per the TIPS spread -- the difference between the yields on Treasury Inflation Protection Securities and the nominal U.S. Treasury bond yield -- is 2% for the next five years. 

Top Food Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Today's Dow leaders
American Express (NYSE: AXP  ) is among today's Dow outperformers, up 2%. More employed Americans and more people looking for work should mean more spending going forward, which is a good trend for American Express. American Express benefits doubly from the economy strengthening as it means less bad debt. Unlike Visa and Mastercard which only process transactions and rely on banks to lend credit, American Express lends its own money to its members. It therefore is incentivized to not only have customers make transactions but to make sure they can make good on those transactions. 

Also flying high today is Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) , up 2.2%. Earlier today Boeing stock hit a 52-week high of $102.25. Boeing is up 30% since March, when it looked like the company had solved the issues with the batteries of its Dreamliner aircraft. If you recall, the Dreamliner was grounded in January by the FAA due to problems with its lithium battery. Now that the problem has been solved, Boeing can resume deliveries of the Dreamliner to. Boeing has also been making news on some other fronts. So far this month the company has won two contracts from the Pentagon that, while small, sow the seeds for potentially massive new opportunities in the future.

Boeing is a major player in a multitrillion-dollar market in which the opportunities are massive. However, emerging competitors and the company's execution problems have investors wondering whether Boeing will live up to its shareholder responsibilities. In our premium research report on the company, two of The Motley Fool's best minds on industrials have collaborated to provide investors with the must-know info on Boeing. They'll be updating the report as key news hits, so don't miss out -- simply click here now to claim your copy today.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now

The market was moving higher this morning, but several financial stocks were lagging.�

In addition to a U.S. regional bank and international insurer ticking lower, Zillow (NASDAQ: Z  ) was down roughly 10% in the early hours of trading despite posting record numbers. Despite the pullback, the shares of the provider of the popular mortgage marketplace are still up over 100% in 2013.

In this video, Motley Fool financial analysts Matt Koppenheffer and David Hanson highlight these stocks and why there may be�opportunity.�

The amount of data we store every year is growing by a mind-boggling 60% annually! To make sense of this trend and pick out a winner, The Motley Fool has compiled a new report called "The Only Stock You Need to Profit From the NEW Technology Revolution." The report highlights a company that has gained 300% since first recommended by Fool analysts but still has plenty of room left to run. To get instant access to the name of this company transforming the IT industry, click here -- it's free.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Chesapeake Gold Corp (CHPGF.PK)

Chesapeake Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focusing on the discovery and development of gold-silver deposits in North and Central America. The Company�� primary asset is the Metates gold-silver project (Metates) located in Durango State, Mexico. The Company also has a portfolio of exploration properties in Mexico comprising 57,067 hectares in the states of Durango, Sinaloa, Oaxaca and Veracruz. The Escorpion property is located 85 kilometers by paved road southeast of Guatemala City. The Metates property is the undeveloped disseminated gold and silver deposits in Mexico. The property is consists of 14 mineral concessions totaling 14,727 hectares. Talapoosa property is a low-sulphidation gold/silver property in the Walker Lane gold trend of western Nevada, approximately 45 kilometers east of Reno. The property consists of 535 unpatented lode mining claims and seven additional fee land sections which cover 10,780 hectares. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Hebba Investments]

  Therefore the situation is still very bullish for investors in physical gold and the gold ETFs (GLD, CEF, and PHYS). Investors interested in leveraging this situation into higher potential profits may also consider buying gold miners such as Randgold (GOLD), Goldcorp (GG), Yamana Gold (AUY), and any of the other gold miners. Finally, those willing to shoulder much larger risks may consider some of the exploration and micro-cap companies that offer significant profits at a high risk such as Chesapeake Gold (CHPGF.PK), Pretium Resources (PVG), Western Copper (WRN), or any other of the junior exploration companies. Though investors should keep in mind that gold mining companies and explorers do not always rise with a rising gold price - do your research before you invest in the miners.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Occidental Petroleum Corporation(OXY)

Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company primarily in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Oil and Gas; Chemical; and Midstream, Marketing, and Other. The Oil and Gas segment explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and condensate and natural gas. Its domestic oil and gas operations are located in Texas, New Mexico, California, Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah, Colorado, North Dakota, and West Virginia; and international oil and gas operations are located in Bahrain, Bolivia, Colombia, Iraq, Libya, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. As of December 31, 2010, this segment had proved reserves of approximately 3,363 million barrels of oil equivalent. The Chemical segment manufactures and markets basic chemicals, including chlorine, caustic soda, chlorinated organics, potassium chemicals, and ethylene dichloride products; vinyls, such as vinyl chloride monomer and polyvinyl chloride; and other chemicals comprising chlorinated isocyanurates, resorcinol, sodium silicates, and calcium chloride products. The Midstream, Marketing, and Other segment gathers, treats, processes, transports, stores, purchases, and markets crude oil that includes natural gas liquids and condensate, as well as natural gas and carbon dioxide. This segment also involves in the power generation; and trades around its assets comprising pipelines and storage capacity, as well as oil and gas, other commodities, and commodity-related securities. Occidental Petroleum Corporation was founded in 1920 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Kelley Wright]

  Based on this criteria, here are our current Timely Ten selections:

  Chevron Corp. (CVX)��ielding 3.3%
  
  CVS Caremark (CVS)��ielding 1.6%
  
  Coca-Cola (KO)��ielding 2.9%
  
  Baxter International (BAX)��ielding 3.0%
  
  Walgreen (WAG)��ielding 2.3%
  
  McDonalds Corp. (MCD)��ielding 3.3%
  
  PepsiCo (PEP)��ielding 2.8%
  
  ExxonMobil (XOM)��ielding 2.9%
  
  Occidental Petroleum (OXY)��ielding 2.7%
  
  Wal-Mart Stores (WMT)��ielding 2.5%
  
  

  Subscribe to Investment Quality Trends here��/P>

• [By Dividend]

  Occidental Petroleum (OXY) has a market capitalization of $68.80 billion. The company employs 12,300 people, generates revenue of $24.253 billion and has a net income of $4.272 billion. Occidental Petroleum�� earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $13.802 billion. The EBITDA margin is 56.91 percent (the operating margin is 30.47 percent and the net profit margin 17.61 percent).

• [By Tyler Crowe]

  Based on the results from other Permian producers, this might be more of a LINN problem. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY  ) , the largest producer in the Permian, recently reported that it was able to grow its Permian production by 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day year over year. �

Top 10 Consumer Service Companies To Watch In Right Now: Westfield Group (WEFIF)

Westfield Group is engaged in ownership, development, design, construction, funds/asset management, leasing and marketing activities undertaken with respect to its global portfolio of retail properties. Property investments segment includes net property income from existing shopping centers and completed developments, revaluation of existing centers and other operational expenses. Property and project management segment includes income from third parties, property management and development fees, and associated business expenses. The development segment includes revaluation of redevelopments and development projects. The corporate business unit includes unallocated corporate entity expenses. In November 2013, Starwood Capital Group LLC acquired a majority interest in seven regional malls in the United States from the Westfield Group. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks fell early Wednesday, tracking a weak lead from the U.S. but with a few blue-chip miners higher after gains for some commodities overnight. The S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) retreated 0.4% to 5,237.80 after similar losses for the main Wall Street indexes, with the Australian benchmark trading around its lowest level since October. Among the major decliners, Qantas Airways Ltd. (AU:QAN) (QUBSF) lost 2.5%, Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd. (AU:HVN) (HNORY) gave up 1.3%, and Incitec Pivot Ltd. (AU:IPL) (ICPVY) fell 1.8%. Santos Ltd. (AU:STO) (STOSF) fell 2.6% on indication it will miss its lowered production guidance for 2013, according to the Australian Financial Review. On the upside, top miners BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP) (BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) rose 0.3% and 0.7%, respectively, while Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) traded 1% higher. Shares of global shopping-mall developer Westfield Group Australia (AU:WDC) (WEFIF) were on halt

• [By MARKETWATCH]

  LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Australia stocks tilted lower early Monday as the Sydney markets reacted to last week's disappointing jobs numbers out of the U.S., with the S&P/ASX 200 (AU:XJO) down 0.2% at 5,304.40. Data out Friday showed the U.S. added a net 74,000 jobs, trailing a forecast for 193,000 positions, and while Wall Street ended mixed following the numbers, Australian stocks will global exposure moved lower. Financial major Macquarie Group Ltd. (AU:MQG) (MCQEF) fell 1.8%, mall developer Westfield Group Australia (AU:WDC) (WEFIF) retreated 0.6%, and media firm News Corp. (AU:NWS) (NWS) -- the parent of MarketWatch, publisher of this report -- gave up 1.3%. But the jobs report also depressed the U.S. dollar, which helped boost prices for dollar-denominated commodities, and this in turn supported Australian resource shares. BHP Billiton Ltd. (AU:BHP) (BHP) gained 0.6%, Rio Tinto Ltd. (AU:RIO) (RIO) added 0.9%, Alumina Ltd. (AU:AWC) (AWCMF) rallied 4.5%, and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (AU:FMG) (FSUMF) improved by 1.2%. A strong showing for Comex gold on Friday also sent Newcrest Mining Ltd.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: American Express Company(AXP)

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services worldwide. The company?s product portfolio consists of charge and credit card products; expense management products and services; consumer and business travel services; stored value cards, including travelers cheques and other prepaid products; network services; merchant acquisition and processing, point-of-sale, servicing and settlement, and marketing and information products and services for merchants; and fee services comprising market and trend analyses and related consulting services, fraud prevention services, and the design of customer loyalty and rewards programs. In addition, it publishes luxury lifestyle magazines; business and travel resources; general interest, cooking, travel, wine, cocktail, financial, and time management books; and international and electronic editions. The company sells its products and services to consumer s, small businesses, mid-sized companies, and large corporations through direct mail, on-line applications, targeted direct and third-party sales forces, and direct response advertising worldwide. American Express Company was founded in 1850 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Monday has been among the worst days for stocks this year, and today was no exception, as Pfizer (PFE), American Express (AXP), Valero Energy (VLO), Fossil Group (FOSL) and Mylan (MYL) tumbled.

• [By Jessica Alling]

  Companies that are dependent on consumer spending also pay close attention to labor statistics, since more employed people could result in higher spending. Dow component American Express (NYSE: AXP  ) has been highly successful in large part because it caters to spenders in the high-income demographics. But as people within all segments of the population begin spending at higher rates, the credit card company and its peers will benefit from a broader revenue stream.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Pebblebrook Hotel Trust(PEB)

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, through Pebblebrook Hotel, L.P., operates as a real estate investment trust. The company acquires and invests primarily in hotel properties located in the United States. It holds interests in the Doubletree Bethesda Hotel and Executive Meeting Center located in Bethesda, Maryland; Sir Francis Drake Hotel located in San Francisco, California; and InterContinental Buckhead Hotel located in Atlanta, Georgia. As a REIT, the company is not subject to federal income tax to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its shareholders. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Marc Bastow]

  Hotel properties real estate investment trust Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PEB) raised its quarterly dividend 44% to 23 cents per share, payable April 15 to shareholders of record as of March 31.
  PEB Dividend Yield: 2.58%

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Oxygen Biotherapeutics Inc.(OXBT)

Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc., a development stage company, engages in developing biotechnology products that deliver oxygen to target tissues in the body in the United States. The company primarily offers Oxycyte, a perfluorcarbon (PFC) based oil in water emulsion that carries oxygen and is been formulated for intravenous delivery for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and decompression sickness; and other PFC-based oxygen carriers for use in personal care, topical wound healing, and other topical indications. It also provides Dermacyte line of topical cosmetic products that promote the appearance of skin health and other cosmetic benefits; and Wundecyte, a wound-healing gel. It markets its Dermacyte line of products through buydermacyte.com; and to dermatologists and medical spas with a combination of in-house sales, independent sales agents, and distributors. The company was formerly known as Synthetic Blood International, Inc. and changed its n ame to Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. in June 2008. Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. was founded in 1967 and is based in Morrisville, North Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Paul Ausick]

  Stocks on the Move: GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTAT) is up 20.5% at $10.10 after earnings and signing deal to supply Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) with sapphire glass. Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL) is up 8.5% at $13.03 following reports of an investment by KKR & Co. (NYSE: KKR). Oxygen Biotherapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OXBT) is up 62.7% at $8.38 along with other biotech stocks making big moves today.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: CryoLife Inc (CRY)

CryoLife, Inc. (CryoLife,), incorporated in January 19,1984, is a biological medical device company. The Company preserves and distributes human tissues for transplantation and develops, manufactures, and commercializes medical devices for cardiac and vascular applications. The cardiac and vascular human tissues distributed by CryoLife include the CryoValve SG pulmonary heart valve (CryoValve SGPV) and the CryoPatch SG pulmonary cardiac patch tissue (CryoPatch SG), both processed using CryoLife�� SynerGraft technology. The Company operates in two segments: preservation services and medical devices segment. The preservation services segment includes services revenues from the preservation of cardiac and vascular tissues during the year ended December 31, 2011. The medical devices segment includes revenues from product sales of BioGlue, BioFoam, PerClot, HemoStase and revascularization technologies, as well as sales of other medical devices. CryoLife�� surgical sealants and hemostats include BioGlue Surgical Adhesive (BioGlue), BioFoam Surgical Matrix (BioFoam) and PerClot, an absorbable powdered hemostat. In May 2011, it acquired Cardiogenesis Corporation. In May 2012, the Company acquired Hemosphere, Inc. Hemosphere develops and markets the HeRO (Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow) Graft, a graft-based solution for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) hemodialysis patients with limited access options and central venous obstruction. In February 2014, CryoLife Inc announced the establishment of CryoLife Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.

CryoLife distributes preserved human cardiac and vascular tissues to implanting institutions throughout the United States (U.S), Canada and Europe. CryoLife processes and preserves cardiac and vascular tissues using processing and freezing techniques, or cryopreservation. The Company�� preservation process involves the recovery of tissue from deceased human donors by tissue banks and organ procurement organizations (OTPOs), the delivery, of such tissue to the Company, the s! creening, dissection, disinfection, processing, and preservation of the tissue by the Company, and the storage and shipment of the preserved tissue.

The human heart valves and cardiac patch tissues preserved by the Company are used in cardiac reconstruction and heart valve replacement surgeries. The Company preserves human aortic and pulmonary heart valves for implantation by cardiac surgeons. In addition, the Company preserves human cardiac patches for surgeons. The Company preserves human cardiac patches in three primarily anatomic configurations: pulmonary hemi-artery, pulmonary trunk and pulmonary branch. As of December 31, 2011, CryoLife shipped approximately 77,600 heart valves and cardiac patch tissues, including approximately 3,000 shipments during 2011.

The human vascular tissues preserved by the Company, including the CryoVein and CryoArtery, are used to treat a variety of vascular reconstructions, such as peripheral bypass, hemodialysis access and aortic infections. The Company preserves small diameter human saphenous vein conduits (3 millimeter to 6 millimeter) for use in peripheral vascular reconstructions. The Company also preserves femoral veins and arteries and aortoiliac arteries for bypass, hemodialysis access, or reconstruction within infected surgical areas. As of December 31, 2011, the Company shipped approximately 66,100 human vascular tissues, including approximately 4,500 shipments during 2011.

CryoLife�� product BioGlue, designed for cardiac, vascular, pulmonary, and general surgical applications, is a polymer based on bovine blood protein and an agent for cross-linking proteins. CryoLife distributes BioGlue throughout the United States and approximately 75 other countries. CryoLife distributes BioGlue for repair of soft tissues under conformite Europeene Mark Product Certification (CE Mark). CryoLife distributes BioGlue in Japan for use in the repair of aortic dissections.

CryoLife�� product, BioFoam, is a protein hydr! ogel biom! aterial with an expansion agent, which generates a mixed-cell foam. The foam creates a mechanical barrier to decrease blood flow and develops pores for the blood to enter, leading to cellular aggregation and enhanced hemostasis. CryoLife distributes BioFoam under CE Mark certification.

CryoLife�� product, PerClot, is an absorbable, powdered hemostatic agent used in surgery. PerClot particles have a molecular structure that absorbs water from blood, creating a high concentration of platelets, red blood cells, and coagulation proteins at the bleeding site, which accelerates the physiologic clotting cascade. PerClot is readily dissolved by saline irrigation and is totally absorbed within several days. PerClot is available in one gram, three gram and five gram sizes with a 100 millimeter or 200 millimeter applicator tip. PerClot Laparoscopic is available in one gram and three gram sizes with a 380 millimeter applicator tip.

The Company competes with St. Jude Medical, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., Edwards Life Sciences, Inc., Neovasc, Inc., LifeNet Health, Inc. W.L. Gore & Associates��Propaten, C.R. Bard, Inc., Hancock Jaffe Laboratories, Inc., Maquet, Inc., CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc., Baxter International, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Company, Covidien Ltd, NeoMend, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Orthovita, Inc., King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ethicon, Inc., ZymoGenetics, Inc. and Nycomed.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Eric Volkman]

  CryoLife (NYSE: CRY  ) is putting some zip into its shares with a dividend boost. The company has declared a fresh quarterly distribution of $0.0275 per share, to be paid on June 21 to shareholders of record as of June 14. This marks the company's first-ever dividend increase -- the new amount is 10% higher than its three prior (and only) payouts, each of which totaled $0.025.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Discovery Communications Inc(DISCA)

Discovery Communications, Inc. operates as a non fiction media and entertainment company worldwide. The company provides original and purchased programming across various distribution platforms. Its content covers science, exploration, survival, natural history, sustainability of the environment, technology, docu-series, anthropology, paleontology, history, space, archaeology, health and wellness, engineering, adventure, lifestyles, forensics, civilization, and current events. The company owns and operates nine national television networks in the United States, including Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, Planet Green, Discovery Fit & Health, and Velocity. Discovery Communications also has interests in Oprah Winfrey Network, a pay-television network and Web site; The Hub that features original programming, game shows, and live-action series and specials; and 3net, a three-dimensional network. In addition, it o ffers network branded Web sites, and mobile and video-on-demand services; and distributes various national and pan-regional television networks. Further, the company develops and sells curriculum-based products and services to public and private K-12 schools, such as access to an online VOD service that includes curriculum-based tools, professional development services, and student assessment and publication of hardcopy curriculum-based content; and postproduction audio services to motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies, and interactive producers. As of December 31, 2011, it operated approximately 150 distribution feeds in 40 languages. The company is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By MONEYMORNING]

  Consider the case of Discovery Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA), the world's leading creator of documentary-style content. The company recently said it wants to upgrade to 4K for shows it runs on such networks as the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, and Science.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: F5 Networks Inc.(FFIV)

F5 Networks, Inc. provides application delivery networking technology that optimizes the delivery of network-based applications, and the security, performance, and availability of servers, data storage devices, and other network resources in the Americas, EMEA, Japan, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers BIG-IP, an application delivery controller; VIPRION, a chassis-based application delivery controller; and FirePass, an appliance that provides SSL VPN access for remote users of Internet protocol networks, and applications connected to the networks from Web browser on any device. It also offers Application Security Manager, an application firewall; WebAccelerator that speeds Web transactions by optimizing individual network object requests, connections, and end-to-end transactions from browser to databases; WAN Optimization Manager, which integrates application delivery with WAN optimization technologies; Access Policy Manager that provides secure, granular, and contex t-aware control of access to applications; Edge Gateway, a remote access product, which offers context-aware, policy controlled, and remote access to applications at LAN speed; Enterprise Manager that allows customers to discover and view company?s products in a single window; and ARX product family, a series of high performance and enterprise-class intelligent file virtualization devices. In addition, F5 Networks provides Data Manager, a software product, which interfaces with file storage devices; iControl, an application programming interface that allows customers to control their products in the network; iRules, a programming language embedded in TMOS architecture; and consulting, training, maintenance, and other technical support services. The company sells its products to enterprise customers and service providers through various channels, including distributors, value-added resellers, and systems integrators. F5 Networks, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lee Jackson]

  F5 Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) has been all over the board in the past year, trading in an almost 45 point range. Analysts around Wall Street in addition to Deutsche Bank are very positive on core growth accelerating in the second half of 2013 as data center orders build. Deutsche Bank has a $100 price objective, and the consensus target is $96.

• [By John Moore]

  Hackers, phrackers, and crackers continuously find loopholes, gaps, and other open doors into our data. No matter how complex the information security or how strong the firewall, threats will persist -- and sometimes circumvent even the best-designed security technologies. The general public's new realization of just how serious cyber threats are has put cybersecurity firms in the spotlight. Barracuda Networks (NYSE: CUDA  ) , F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV  ) , and Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ: CHKP  ) are three cybersecurity firms to watch in 2014.

• [By Evan Niu, CFA]

  Shares of networking giant Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO  ) are particularly weak today, having lost as much as 5% today and lagging the broader market. The reason for the pessimism is that networking peer F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV  ) announced preliminary figures last night that left a lot to be desired and have negative implications for the broader sector.

Hot Regional Bank Companies To Buy Right Now: Luxottica Group SpA (LUX)

Luxottica Group S.p.A. (Luxottica), incorporated in 1961, is an Italy-based company engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of prescription frames and sunglasses in the mid-and premium-price categories. It operates in two segments: manufacturing and wholesale distribution and retail distribution. Through its manufacturing and wholesale distribution segment, it is engaged in the design, manufacture, wholesale distribution and marketing of house and designer lines of mid-to premium-priced prescription frames and sunglasses. The Company operates its retail segment principally through its retail brands, which include, among others, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical and its Licensed Brands (Sears Optical and Target Optical), as well as through the retail brands of its business, Oakley, which include, among others, Oakley O Stores and Vaults, David Clulow e nel segmento Licensed Brand. Among its subsidiaries there are: Air Sun, Bazooka Inc, David Clulow Brighton Ltd and Ecotop Pty Ltd.

In May 2010, the Company acquired a 35.16% interest held by minority stockholders in Luxottica Gozluk Endustri ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, (Luxottica Turkey). On July 30, 2010, Luxottica acquired a 34% interest held by minority stockholders in Sunglass Hut (UK) Limited. On November 26, 2010, it acquired the Optifashion Australia Pty Limited group from HAL Optical Investments B.V. The acquisition included 47 corporate stores (40 optical and seven sun) and nine franchises, trading under brands including Just Spectacles. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of the David Clulow chain, bringing its ownership in the subsidiary to 100%. Luxottica�� house brands include Ray-Ban, Oakley, Arnette, Persol, REVO, Vogue, Oliver Peoples, K&L, Luxottica, Mosley Tribes, Sferoflex and Eye Safety Systems (ESS). Its licensed designer brands include Anne Klein, Brooks Brothers, Bvlgari, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, D&G, Donna Karan, DKNY, Fox, Miu ! Miu, Paul Smith, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Stella McCartney, Tiffany & Co, Tory Burch and Versace. Polo Ralph Lauren includes Chaps, Polo, Ralph and Ralph Lauren Purple Label. Product design, development and manufacturing takes place in six production facilities in Italy, two wholly owned factories in China and two sports sunglasses production facilities in the United States. Luxottica also has a small plant in India serving the local market.

During 2010, the Company produced approximately 56.6 million units. In North America, the Company operates the points of sale for its Licensed Brands, with over 1,140 stores under the Sears Optical and Target Optical brands. During 2010, it distributed approximately 20.4 million prescription frames and approximately 38.4 million sunglasses, in approximately 5,900 different styles. During 2010, it announced the signing of a license agreement with Coach, Inc. (Coach) for the design, manufacturing and global distribution of sun and prescription eyewear under the Coach, Coach Poppy and Reed Krakoff brands. Essilor S.A. (Essilor) is the supplier of the Company�� retail operations.

Luxottica�� distribution system is globally integrated and supplied by a centralized manufacturing programming platform. The network linking the logistics and sales centers to the production facilities in Italy and China also provides daily monitoring of global sales performance and inventory levels so that manufacturing resources can be programmed and warehouse stocks re-allocated to meet local market demand. This integrated system serves both the retail and wholesale businesses with 18 distribution centers worldwide, of which eight are in the Americas, seven are in the Asia-Pacific region and three are in the rest of the world. It has three main distribution centers (hubs) in locations serving its markets: Sedico in Europe, Atlanta in the Americas and Dongguan in the Asia-Pacific region. They operate as centralized facilities, offering custo! mers a au! tomated order management system. During 2010, it managed over 13,500 orders per day, including eyeglasses and spare parts. Sedico ships over 170,000 units daily to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and to its distribution centers in the rest of the world, from which they are then shipped to local customers.

Wholesale Distribution

The Company�� wholesale distribution network, covering 130 countries across five continents, has 18 logistics centers and 42 commercial subsidiaries providing direct operations in key markets. Luxottica also distributes certain brands, including Oakley, to sporting goods stores and specialty sports stores, including bike, surf, snow, skate, golf and motor sports stores.

Retail Distribution

The retail portfolio offers a range of differentiation points for consumers, including the latest in designer and sun frames, lens options, eye care and everyday vision care health benefits. As of March 31, 2011, the Company�� retail business consisted of 5,911 corporate stores and 514 franchised or licensed locations. In its retail sun business, Luxottica operates over 2,480 retail locations in North America, Asia-Pacific, South Africa, Europe and the Middle East, mainly through the Sunglass Hut brand. Luxottica�� retail stores sells not only prescription frames and sunglasses that it manufactures but also a range of prescription frames, lenses and other ophthalmic products manufactured by other companies. During 2010, units manufactured with its brand names or its licensed brands represented approximately 80.2% of the total sales of frames based on units sold by the retail division.

Luxottica�� optical retail operations are anchored by brands, such as LensCrafters and Pearle Vision in North America, and OPSM, Laubman & Pank and Budget Eyewear, which are available in Australia and New Zealand. It also has a retail presence in China, where the Company operates in the eyewear market with LensCrafters. As of ! March 31,! 2011, the Company�� optical retail business consisted of approximately 3,650 retail locations globally. As of March 31, 2011, it operated a retail network of 1,191 LensCrafters stores, of which 989 are in North America and 202 stores are in China and Hong Kong. LensCrafters stores offer a range of selection of prescription frames and sunglasses, mostly made by Luxottica, in addition to a range of lenses and optical products made by other suppliers. LensCrafters' products include lenses, such as FeatherWates (lightweight, thin and impact-resistant lenses), DURALENS (super scratch-resistant lenses), Advanced View Progressive (free-form, digitally surfaced progressive lenses), Invisibles (anti-reflective lenses) and MVP Maximum View Progressives (multi-focal lenses without visible lines).

Pearle Vision is a optical retail chain in North America. As of March 31, 2011, Pearle Vision operated 330 corporate stores and had 350 franchise locations throughout North America. The Company also operates a network of retail locations in North America operating as Sears Optical and Target Optical, its Licensed Brands, which uses the brand names of their respective American department store. As of March 31, 2011, it operated 828 Sears Optical and 323 Target Optical locations throughout North America. OPSM includes three optical chains that it operates in Australia and New Zealand. In July 2010, the brand launched its new flagship store OPSM Eye Hub and in September 2010, the brand launched its new OPSM Loves Eyes marketing campaign. As of March 31, 2011, the Company owned 357 OPSM corporate stores throughout Australia. OPSM also has 43 corporate-owned stores in New Zealand, mainly in large urban areas.

Laubman & Pank focuses on the independent optical shopper looking for eyecare and service. As of March 31, 2011, Luxottica owned 65 Laubman & Pank corporate stores throughout Australia. As of March 31, 2011, the Company owned 92 Budget Eyewear corporate stores throughout Australia and had nine! franchis! e locations. Budget Eyewear also has 14 corporate stores in New Zealand. EyeMed Vision Care is a managed vision care operators in the United States, serving over 28.5 million members in large and medium size companies and government entities and through insurance companies. EyeMed has a network of over 24,000 locations, including opticians, ophthalmologists, optometrists and chains operated by Luxottica. Together with LensCrafters' over 900 in-store labs, Luxottica operates five central lens finishing labs in North America. In addition, it operates Oakley optical lens laboratories in the United States, Ireland and Japan. As of March 31, 2011, Sunglass Hut had 2,385 stores worldwide, of which 2,329 are corporate stores and 56 are franchise locations. As of March 31, 2011, the Company operated approximately 590 Sunglass Hut departments in Macy's.

ILORI is Luxottica's fashion sunwear retail brand, with 24 stores in North America, as of March 31, 2011, including flagship stores in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City and in Beverly Hills, California. As of March 31, 2011, the Company operated 24 Optical Shop of Aspen stores in locations throughout the United States. Luxottica operates six luxury retail stores under the Oliver Peoples brand. The Oliver Peoples brand retail stores only offer Oliver Peoples, Mosley Tribes and Paul Smith branded optical products. Two additional Oliver Peoples retail locations are operated under license in Tokyo and Los Angeles. In Europe, it operates David Clulow, an optical retailer operating in the United Kingdom and Ireland. As of March 31, 2011, David Clulow operated 39 corporate-owned locations (including nine joint ventures), four franchise locations and 36 sun stores/concessions. As of March 31, 2011, Bright Eyes operated 51 corporate store locations and 73 franchise locations. As of March 31, 2011, the Company operated 159 Oakley O Stores and Vaults worldwide, offering a range of Oakley products, including sunglasses, apparel, footwear and accessories. An! other sal! es channel is e-commerce, including the Oakley and the Ray-Ban Websites (www.oakley.com, www.Ray-Ban.com).

The Company competes with De Rigo S.p.A., Marchon Eyewear, Inc., Marcolin S.p.A., Safilo Group S.p.A., Silhouette International Schmied AG, Maui Jim, Inc., Wal-Mart, Eye Care Centers of America, Vision Service Plan (VSP), Davis Vision and Spectera.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Roberto Pedone]

  First up is $25 billion eyewear stock Luxottica Group (LUX). Luxottica has posted some solid performance year-to-date, rallying more than 28% since the calendar flipped over to January. But this stock looks downright toxic right now. Here's why.

  Luxottica is currently forming a bearish price setup called a descending triangle. The pattern is formed by a horizontal support level below shares at $51 and downtrending resistance to the topside. As shares bounce between those two technically significant price levels, LUX is getting squeezed closer to a breakdown below that $51 price floor. When that happens, we've got our sell signal in this fashion stock.

  Declining volume over the course of the setup in LUX adds some confirmation to the trade, but the downtrend in relative strength is the real problem in this chart. LUX has been underperforming the broad market horrifically in the last quarter, and a move through the $51 level would sap a lot more buying pressure from shares.

  If you still own LUX, look for that sell signal as your exit.

• [By Holly LaFon]

  Mario Gabelli (Trades, Portfolio)'s CIO Howard Ward likes Luxottica (LUX), Novo Nordisk (NOVO), Diageo (DEO), Apple (AAPL) and CVS (CVS).

  �

• [By Alanna Petroff]

  Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) announced late Monday that it is joining forces with eyewear giant Luxottica (LUX) to design, develop and distribute a new generation of Glass.

• [By Victor Selva]

  The company has a very attractive current ratio of 33.03% which is higher than its comps: Becton Dickinson & Co (BDX), Cardinal Health Inc (CAH), Cooper Companies (COO) and Luxottica Group S.p.A. (LUX).